McCulloch Launches New Election Services for
Montana Absent Military and Overseas Voters

HELENA - In her continued efforts to implement the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, and 2009 State Legislation, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch on Tuesday announced the recent launch of new online election services for Montana absent military and overseas citizen (UOCAVA) voters to allow those voters to fully participate in the General Election on November 2, 2010.

"Montana has long been proactive in protecting the voting rights of absent military and overseas citizens," Secretary McCulloch said. ìIn addition to being able to register and request an absentee ballot electronically, the state's active military can now also vote, access and track their ballot from almost anywhere in the world."

The Secretary of State's latest online election tools include the:

1) Ballot Marking Wizard – Allows absent military and overseas electors to seamlessly apply for, receive and mark a ballot electronically. The service provides voters step-by-step instructions and immediate assistance through an online chat, which is powered by the Federal Voter Assistance Program.

2) Absentee Ballot Tracking Service – Allows absentee voters to check the status of their absentee ballot using the office’s recently enhanced online service, My Voter Page. The ballot tracking service can determine whether or not a ballot has been mailed, the address it was mailed to, and the date it was received at the county election office.

“Every eligible Montanan should be able to vote and know that their vote is counted,” McCulloch said. “Your voice matters, whether you vote in Montana or from somewhere overseas.”

County Election Administrators recently mailed ballots to the state’s 3,608 absent military and overseas electors, in accordance with MCA 13-13-205.

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee voting for the November General Election opens on October 4. To vote absentee, fill out an Application for Absentee Ballot at your county election office, or download one from the Secretary of State’s website at sos.mt.gov/Elections. The Application must be received at the county election office by noon the day before the election.